GTF Latest News...

ANOTHER FANTASTIC LONDON-PARIS EVENT!

Geoff, Chairman Graham Silk, John Salako and the GTF team successfully rode into Paris after three full days in the saddle to raise valuable funds for the Foundation. The London-Paris ride organised by Hotchillee events saw 350 riders set off from Imber Court in London and cycle 550km to Paris in three days.

This is Geoff’s third year taking part in the ride which has been hailed as ‘the best yet’ by the organisers and riders. Geoff said ‘’It just amazes me. Every year it seems to get better and better. Last year it was an emotional rollercoaster for the people who did it. This year some of our riders are battling back from blood cancer and they were riding 100 miles a day. It was fantastic. Everyone clubbed together and helped each other out when they were struggling’’

Joining the GTF Team for his first ever event on a bike was Chairman Graham Silk who himself has recovered from Leukaemia. ‘’This is without doubt one of the hardest things I have ever done. There were moments during the ride that I wasn’t sure I was going to finish but the support from everyone was fantastic and being able to ride into Paris and be met by my family is something I’ll never forget’’ said Graham.

Special congratulations must go to 68 year old Gio Gonzalez who completed his second L2P this year. He has been a friend of Geoff’s for many years and continues to support his fundraising efforts.

A huge thank you to all the GTF Team, from everyone at the Foundation and Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research for a brilliant effort. Look forward to seeing you all again next year!

SURVIVORS

Ex-England and Crystal Palace footballer Geoff Thomas, is teaming up with a fellow cancer survivor in The London-Paris 2010.

Thomas, who beat leukaemia, will ride with businessman and leukaemia survivor, Graham Hampson Silk. The men met when Thomas counselled Hampson Silk as he fought for his life. They now campaign for improved treatment for leukaemia patients.

Geoff Thomas and Graham Hampson Silk

Thomas, who beat his cancer with a stem cell transplant from his sister in 2004, said:
Graham and I were both treated by Professor Charlie Craddock in Birmingham. I was a bit further down the road when Charlie asked if I could talk Graham through my experience.

We met in the waiting room at the hospital and Graham and I shared the toughest battle of our lives in our fight against cancer. That experience cemented our friendship and determination to campaign for better treatment for leukaemia patients.

Hampson Silk was not suitable for transplant therapy and his life was saved by a new drug. He explained: ìI was given three years to live which was absolutely devastating. My brother was not a close enough match for me to have a transplant and I thought I was going to die.

In 1980, Hampson Silk's father, Tom, a legendary chairman of West Bromwich Albion Football Club, and his mother, Ruth, were killed in an air crash in France returning from Hampson Silkís 21st birthday party. He said: ìI knew the heartbreak of losing my parents and when I was diagnosed with leukaemia I had three very young children. The thought of leaving them was unbearable.

Hampson Silk was then given a chance of life: ìI was told that I couldnít have a transplant and that my only hope was a new experimental drug called Glivec. I was able to get onto a trial of that drug and it saved my life.

His experience led him to join the Geoff Thomas Foundation as chairman "Geoff and I have become great friends and we have shared some astonishing times. We are now determined to campaign for more drugs trials for leukaemia patients. This country spends hundreds of millions of pounds on research and if we could get the new drugs to patients quickly, more people would have the same chance of survival that I had."

We need to raise £10 million to fund a network of blood cancer trials centres that will make a real difference to thousands of people with blood cancer. Thomas added "It'll be a tough road to Paris but Graham and I are made of strong stuff. We know that every mile ridden by Team GTF will be helping leukaemia patients who face the same hard road that we have travelled ourselves."

Thomas and Hampson Silk will be part of a 15-strong Geoff Thomas Foundation team to ride The L2P which also includes Sky commentator and ex-Crystal Palace footballer, John Salako.

People wishing to support them can log on to www.justgiving.com/geoffthomas-grahamsilk

Other stars riding in The L2P 2010 peloton are Olympian Rebecca Romero, Tour de France winner Stephen Roche, former England rugby captain, Will Carling, All Blacks legend, Zinzan Brooke and ex-Formula-1 champion Nigel Mansell.

The London-Paris 2010, (June 24 to 26) staged by HotChillee, the global marketing and events company, is the UKís premier cyclosportive. It is recognised as the closest the amateur rider can get to the Tour de France experience.

The ride covers 550km in three days with a rest day in Paris. The Daily Telegraph recently ranked The L2P as one of the worldís top 25 events, alongside the London and New York marathons. The event has also been named in the top ten of adventure events for women.

This yearís L2P partners are adidas, Science in Sport, Specialized, Cyclevox, Sigma Sport, Mavic, Ambrosia, Map My Tracks, DHL and Sportique.

www.londres-paris.com

For more information and interviews, please contact:

Sybil Ruscoe - 07767 77 77 87

LE MEAD 2010 - ‘THE STELVIO FOR STEVO’

lemead Last years Le Mead challenge saw Matt Crouch and Chris Thomas join the Geoff Thomas Foundation charity team to complete a gruelling cycle tour covering 330 miles from London to Paris in just 3 days, raising over £10,000 for the GTF charity.

This year, in true Le Mead style we are upping our game… immensely!!!

Steve Mead was a huge petrol head and always wanted to drive what is commonly known as "the best driving road in the world" – the Stelvio Pass in Italy.

Well, Team Le Mead shall be riding this road in memory of Steve…on BIKES! A 4 day, 300 mile cycling challenge will take place from September 5th – 8th and features an 18 strong Team Le Mead. This unique ride will see the team take on the Dolomite mountain region of the Alps and will see them reaching altitudes of 8000ft on road bikes conquering constant mountain climbs on days 2,3 and 4. The team will be cycling from Venice to Milan via Switzerland and day 2 of the ride includes a 15 mile climb up the Stelvio Pass in a challenge that dwarves last years L2P. And if that’s not enough, this route we are taking has NEVER been done before! The official Team donation site is WWW.JUSTGIVING.COM/LEMEAD2010

and all challenge information is on our website at WWW.LEMEAD.CO.UK